Mechanicsburg, PA - Legend has it that the Pennsylvania Posse is the toughest group of drivers that face the Pennzoil World of Outlaws during a given season. This year is no different and one of the reasons they are so tough is because of their weekly programs, which require point leaders to start in the middle of the field and pass their way to the front. WoO star Donny Schatz has been passing cars from deep in the field all season, so he's excited about returning to Williams Grove Speedway, a track where he's been tough to beat the past couple of seasons.

"It's always good to pull into a track, where you've won races," said Schatz, who has won half of the last eight WoO races at the historic half-mile. "We won four races in a row there and also had a second and third, so we feel good about our chances."

Schatz and his ParkerStore team will arrive for Thursday's opener of the three night program with their elbows up. In Tuesday's Silver Cup XI in Western Pennsylvania, Schatz stormed from his 15th place starting position in his #15 ParkerStore J&J to the front only to be knocked out of contention while going for the lead.

"I didn't think I had a chance to win the race last night early on, but I just kept passing cars," claimed Schatz. "(Crew Chief) Kenny (Woodruff) and (Crewman) Shane (Anderson) did a great job all night. The J&J car was unbelievable. I could run the top, middle or bottom and our motor program has really picked up here of late. We just have started too far back. Once I got close, I took my shot at the lead and the next thing I knew Joey (Saldana) was sitting right in front of me."

Passing cars has not been a problem this season for Schatz, who has passed at least 10 cars in a feature event 9 times this season, including coming from 21st to fourth in last Saturday's King's Royal. That doesn't include Tuesday's run from 15th to third after which he dove to the inside of both Joey Saldana and race leader Ed Lynch, Jr. with nine laps remaining. Saldana couldn't hold his line and left Schatz with no place to go, and he ended up finishing 12th.

"We know we still have to qualify better," said Schatz. "I think we found some things out qualifying at Lernerville even though 15th isn't what we wanted. The key is that we are racing good at the end of the night. That has the entire team feeling good about our chances, and we've qualified well at Williams Grove in the past."

The three-night program will put a premium on qualifying as teams will accumulate points from qualifying, their heat races and both preliminary features. The top four drivers in points after the two preliminary programs will be locked into Saturday's $20,000-to-win "A" feature.

"We won the last three day show in Fargo, so that's as good of motivation as any," concluded Schatz. "No one on this team needs any confidence boosts. We all know that if we keep working hard everything will work out just like in Fargo. We didn't qualify well there the first night, but we raced good and that got us a top four starting spot. If we can start in the top four on Saturday night, I'll like our chances."

All three nights from Williams Grove Speedway will be aired on Sprint Car Network Radio affiliates or at www.sprintcarnet.com.

(Photos by David Allio)